Last Friday night my husband and I were watching an episode of Diners, Drive Ins and Dives. I’m always inspired by all these amazing restaurants. They make delicious food that have customers coming back for more. I love that business model! Make good food and people will come back time and time again.
Well, it is hard to find a good diner sometimes so I figured, “Hey I can do that!” Not own my own restaurant of course but have my little family saying, “I’ll be back tomorrow for breakfast.” HA! The inspired recipe from that show last week was a banana caramel french toast and I just had to re-create it.
In the original recipe they used a Brioche, which if I had gotten up at 4 am I could have easily made it, but waking up at 630 didn’t allow much time to make brioche. Store bought bread is what I used but it didn’t matter because once the banana caramel sauce was lathered over the top of this heavenly creation it was oh so tasty!
Okay okay, I’ll share the recipe now. Get your printer ready and make sure you have all the ingredients because you’ll want this on your table tomorrow morning.
- SAUCE:
- 1 cup brown sugar
- ½ cup half and half
- 4 tablespoons butter
- ⅛ teaspoon salt
- 1 teaspoon vanilla
- ¼ teaspoon cinnamon
- 1 large ripe banana, diced
- FRENCH TOAST
- 4 eggs
- ½ cup half and half
- 1 tablespoon brown sugar
- 1 teaspoon cinnamon
- 1 tablespoon butter
- 6 pieces of sliced whole wheat bread
- 1 bananas, sliced into bite size pieces
- ¼ cup chopped roasted almonds (optional)
- SAUCE: In a medium sauce pan, on medium high heat add brown sugar, butter and half and half, and salt. Once mixture begins to thicken, add vanilla, cinnamon and banana to sauce and continue to cook for 10 minutes. Then set to the side but keep warm.
- FRENCH TOAST: pre-heat a griddle pan on the stove on medium high heat and melt butter.
- Pre-heat the oven to 170 degrees.
- In a medium bowl combine, eggs, half and half, brown sugar, cinnamon and whisk together.
- Starting with one piece of bread at a time, dip bread into egg mixture making sure it is evenly coated with the egg mixture and place on hot griddle and repeat with remaining slices of bread.
- Cook on each side until golden brown, about 2-3 minutes.
- Keep warm in the oven until all pieces of french toast are made.
- Slice banana into bite side pieces and chop almonds.
- Serving: cut one piece of bread diagonally. Top the first piece with banana slices, drizzle caramel sauce over the top then garnish with almonds. Stack second piece over first piece and repeat: banana slices, caramel sauce and almonds.
- Serve warm and Enjoy
While trying to get the right picture, Little Buddy had to be in the shot. He was very excited about breakfast, can’t you tell! 
What is your favorite diner breakfast item? Share with me!
Sharing today at The Frugal Girls and Foodie Friends.